Omaha, NE: Mississippi State faithful and their experiences

Checklist:

• Ticket(s)
• Gas money or airfare
• Hotel room
• Vacation days from work
• Babysitter for kids and/or sitter for your pets
• Expenses in Omaha (food, souvenirs, etc.)

I just got in after a long 1,000 mile 15 hour drive from Petal, MS to Omaha, Nebraska and had one of the greatest sports experiences of my life. Me and two longtime friends, Layne and Alan Moreton met up in Memphis last Friday and left Memphis around noon. We made it to Omaha around 10PM that night.

Saturday we headed to TD Ameritrade stadium and tailgated with some friends we knew from the left field lounge where we watch home MSU games. The tailgate atmosphere there on Saturday rivaled a gameday atmosphere for a college football game. Lots of good food and cold drinks. We decided to walk around and met fans from all across the country from California to Virginia and everywhere in between. The best thing about it was that most of those fans have been coming for years to Omaha and were extremely friendly and hospitable.

After tailgating for a few hours we were ready for our game against Oregon St. The atmosphere entering the stadium was electric as almost every Mississippi State fan we passed greeted us with a "Hail State!" or "Go Dawgs!" We had seats with MSU fans around us and were as loud as we could be throughout the game. When Wes Rea got the game winning hit, me and my friends stood up cheering as loud as we could. We would all later admit we got a little light headed from the euphoria of such a big time clutch play late in the game. We also all felt our stomachs drop when the Oregon State batter almost hit a homer off Holder in the 9th. Luckily Hunter Renfroe ran it down and caught it.

Sunday we met a lot of locals tailgating, and I must admit the folks from Nebraska and Iowa were extremely hospitable. There were so many schools represented in the parking lot tailgates. From Minnesota to Clemson, and Oklahoma State to Florida State.

Monday was a night game and because of the time of the year and where Nebraska is located, the sun was out until almost 9pm. Our game with Indiana was another thriller with Trey Porter being the hero giving us the most clutch hit of his career. The 9th was another adventure, but we lived to see another day.

My overall experience in Omaha was amazing! Great tailgating, great city, great environment at the ballpark, and great games (with bulldog wins). The drive was long, but it was well worth it and I'll definitely be back...possibly sooner than later if we make the finals.

We got up there Friday afternoon and played the first game on Saturday. Our left field lounge friend Paul Maloney had a great tailgate set up in parking lot D, which is outside the outfield wall. We quickly made friends with the locals, a lot like football tailgating. There were people literally from all over America, in fact, there's a group from Minnesota that are coming for Super Bulldog Weekend next year. Being one thing on my bucket list, it was all I could imagine and more. The fact that I saw the Dogs win on the big stage made it all the sweeter. TD Ameritrade Park is more beautiful in person than on TV. If I could give any adviCe to someone planning on making the trip, it would be to line up your tickets before you go. I actually saw LSU fans in the general admission line at noon for the 7 p.m. ballgame. The only regret I have is not going in '07 and seeing Rosenblatt. Everyone you meet tailgating has at least one story about the old ballpark on the hill.